PROTESTS ERUPT IN NIGER AGAINST FRENCH MILITARY CONVOY

Sun 28 November 2021:

At least two people were killed and 16 were injured when a French military convoy was met by protesters in Niger after crossing from Burkina Faso, where the column had been blocked for a week.

On Saturday, a French military convoy redeploying from Ivory Coast to Mali was met with new protests. It was blocked by angry locals less than 30 kilometers (19 miles) after crossing into Niger from neighboring Burkina Faso.

After a turbulent night, clashes continued Saturday, leaving two people killed and a dozen others wounded, including serious cases, in clashes with security forces trying to clear the way, the Actuniger newspaper said, citing local sources.

Demonstrators, mostly youth chanting, “We don’t want you” and “Go home” erected barricades on the main city road, prompting police to fire teargas to disperse the crowd.

There has not been any official communication on the matter.

Footage from the scene has gone viral, showing a crowd of protesters standing in the middle of a road, with multiple armored vehicles and logistics trucks visible in the background. Thick clouds of black smoke rose from a burning barricade set up across the road.

The French military convoy blocked last week by protesters in Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 crossed into Niger 🇳🇪 today, where it met new protests that turned violent, killing at least two. For better or worse, France 🤮🇫🇷 is quickly losing political ground in the Sahel. pic.twitter.com/M7Q0D3Ufdh

— K.Diallo ☭ (@nyeusi_waasi) November 27, 2021

Protesters chanted “Down with France!” in response to France’s continued military presence.

But French army spokesman Pascal Ianni told AFP that when the convoy wanted to continue to Niger’s capital Niamey, they were stopped by about 1,000 demonstrators.

Noting that a violent group among them tried to take control of trucks, Ianni said two civilian drivers in the convoy were injured by stones and civilian trucks were damaged.

The French media report said three people were killed and 18 wounded, including four who had to be evacuated for treatment in Niamey, 200 kilometers (120 miles) away.

Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum on Friday justified the presence of foreign forces, including French soldiers in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel.

After entering Burkina Faso last week, demonstrators in Kaya, north central Burkina Faso, blocked the convoy.

Demonstrators reportedly suspected members of the French anti-terrorist force of having weapons and motorcycles in their containers that are used to supply terrorists.

But Burkinabe Foreign Minister Alpha Barry allayed suspicions of France supporting terrorists in the country on Wednesday and said that there was nothing irregular about the convoy passing through Burkina Faso.

It arrived in the Ivory Coast last week and departed Burkina Faso on Friday only to confront more protests in Niger.

Similar “anti-French feelings” have previously been demonstrated in Mali and Chad.

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